There is no substitute for these funky and incredibly flavorful beans. You will find them in Indian, Italian and Middle Eastern Grocery stores, or simply go online: well worth looking for. You will love them, so get a nice supply and store them in glass jars. Don’t get it into your head to peel them, which would be pure slavery: Buy them peeled!

Ingredients:

4 cups peeled dry fava beans

3 quarts (12 cups) water

1/2 cup olive oil

Kosher Salt to taste

8 large cloves garlic

2 tbsp paprika

1 tsp cayenne, or to taste

2 tablespoons cumin

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Direction:

Bring the beans, water, oil, salt and garlic to boil in a wide bottom pot. Reduce the flame to medium and cook, covered, for 2 hours.

Whisk the paprika, cayenne, cumin, lemon juice and a little water in a bowl to make sure you have no spice lumps, and throw the mixture in the pot. Cook 15 more minutes.

You will find that the beans have almost completely dissolved all by themselves, but just in case you want a more elegant presentation, cream the soup with an immersion blender.